Hat-crown block



J. PALEY HAT CROWN BLOCK Filed March 51 1927 Nov. 22, 1927.

Patented Nov.. 22, 1927.

srATss JACEB PALEY, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

HAT-CROWN BLOCK.

.Application am March 5, 1927. serial in. 173,026.

This invention relates to hat ap aratus and has particular reference to a b ocking device used for shaping, stretching, or reblocking hats worn by men or women.

Among the objects of the invention\1s to provide a hat blockhaving relatively mbvalble parts and equipped with heating means for said parts and with simple and eliic1e'ntmanually operated means for actuating said parts and for indicating the extent of the movement thereof and in accordance with standard hat sizes. t y

With the foregoing and other objects. 1n view the invention consists-in the arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the exact details of construction .disclosed or suggested herein, still for the purpose of illustrating ya practical embodiment thereof reference is had to the accompanying drawings 'in which like reference characters designate the same parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a vertical or sideelevation with parts in section showing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view with parts insection on the broken line 2-2 of' Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end elevationwith parts in section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1. Referring now more specifically to the drawings I showmy improved hat block as comprising a base 10 of any suitable size or design, preferably substantially flat, and having mounted upon one end thereof the pedestal portion 11 of the block. Toward the other end of the base is secured a gage plate 12 having graduation marks to indicate at 13 standard hat Sizes and at 14 measurements in inches, it being understood that there is a definite correlation between the two means of identifying sizes so that the two scales are in effect but one.

The upper end of the pedestal consists of a cross head l5 having two laterally projecting lugs or bosses 16 having horizontal parallel eyes or guideways 17 1n which are fitted and secured a pair of guides in the form of'rods 18 extending fore and aft from the crosshead and spaced in parallel ,position to and above the base 10. These guides rods 18 are rigid and are fixed in constant position in the boss 16 by suitable means such as set screws 19.

In the center of the cross head midway between the bosses 16 is a bearing 20 in which is journaled for rotation a compeund right and left hand screw 21, the same having a reduced portion 22 into which pro- ]ects a pin inthe form of a screw 23 which serves to hold the screw from endwise movement while it is unlimited as to its rotation in the bearing 20. The shank 24 of the screw extends well forward from the pedestal and 1s provided with a hand wheel 25 or itsy equi-valent for the rotation of the screw. The block proper, in its preferred construction, com rises two relatively movable parts 26 and 2 having a hemispherical top and cylindrical bottom or approximately so.

These block members are made of any suitable material and preferably hollow so as .to

accommodate heating elements 28, one in each member. v

Each block member is provided with or 1s mounted upon a cross head comprising a central nut portion 29 and two lug portions 30 spaced equally on opposite sides of the center of the nut portion 29. The lugs 30 are similar in size and form to the lugs 16 above described but serve to constitute slidable supports for the block members holding them in denite relation to the guide rods 18 but permitting the block members to slide toward and from each other so that they may abut against each other at their meeting surfaces at the vertical center of the pedestal or to move apart from each other when the practical size of the block is enlarged. The right and left portions of the screw 21 co-operate respectively with the nut portions 29 of the block members and in cooperation with the screw they constitute the means for movement of the block members toward or from each other'.` For instance, as shown, with the rotation of the hand wheel yand shank 24 as indicated by the arrows, the

block members are caused to separate, thereby enlarging the practical dimension of the block.

' One of the members 29 carries a'rigidly disposed iin er or pointer 31, the point of l on and olf switch 34 of well known con-` struction so that when the switch is turned on'both heating units will be heated simultaneously and to the same deree. lIt is usual for the block to be heated urin most of the operations thereof, althouei for stretching purpes the block may used at room temperature.

Each block unit comprises an inner vertical plate of fiat form and having a rounded top 36 and having a semi-circular buse or bottom 37. Each section of the block also includes a smooth wall or surface portion 26", the upper end of which is in the form of a segment of a sphere and which together with the opposing similar part constitutes a hemisphere when the parts are toeether. This member also includes a semi-cyllindrical skirt or bottom portion which bounds the base 37. For securing these parts together the upper curved portion is provided with a pin 38 which projects downward and throu h the hole in a lug 39 formed at the top 0I the plate portion 35, and the parts are finally secure togehter by any suitable arran ed screws 40.

Wit the foregoing s ecific description of the mechanism, the moge of operation may be briey summarized as follows: With the hand wheel and screw rotated as far as it can be toward the right, the two block portions will be brought with their plates 35 in abutting relation, and at this time the indicator 31 will register with the smallest practical size of hat indicated on the plate 12. The switch 34 will be turned on if heat is desired in the block units. The hand wheel 25 is then turned in the left .direction so as to separate the units 26 and 27v as far from each other as will be determined by the amount of tension or stress desired to be placed in the hat which is of course understood to be placed thereover 'before the block elements are separated. This movement of the screw is continued until the desired size for the hat is indicated by the pointer 31 over the plate 12 and the operation will be then delayed long enough for the roper amount of stretch to become effective especially if the hat has been moistened or steamed for the purpose.

I claim:

In a hat crown block, a base, a pedestal extending upward from the base, a cross head carried by the upper end of the pedestal and comprising a central bearing and a pair of bosses spaced on opposite sides thereof, said bosses having parallel horizontal bores, a pair of guide bars fixed in said bores and extending fore and aft from the cross head, a horizontal ri'ght and left screw journaled in said cross head bearing, a air of' block portions, and a cross head xed to each of the block portions, each of the latter mentioned cross heads comprising a central nut ortion co-operatin with said screw, andp a pair of guide lings slidably mounted upon said bars whereby the block members are caused to move toward or from each other and are held positively from lateral tilting or other movement.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

JACOB PALEY.

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